building

Does social capital measurement magnify existing problems?

Measuring social capital in organisations may be like holding up a magnifying glass on existing problems – it’ll reinforce whatever it sees. The most important elements of organisational social capital are often not in the forefront of our minds. We’re generally not fully aware of the organisational culture: the norms, values, attitudes and beliefs, and …

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The cultural context of social capital

Opinion piece on the Australian cultural context and its implications for social capital As a geographer and social theorist I have spent a lot of time reading and thinking about Australian culture. For a few years I taught a university course on Australian culture and spent many hours exploring the issues with students in tutorial …

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Grabbing at the wind: the power forces of social capital

Is attempting to capitalise on social capital just like grabbing at the wind? It’s not particularly tangible and a powerful force that doesn’t always blow the way you want. I have no doubt that social capital is missing from most corporate balance sheets and is certainly a factor that all organisations should take seriously due …

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What does it mean to build social capital?

To build social capital means to improve social structures and social attitudes, values and behaviours. Building social capital means different things at different levels. At the individual level building social capital involves the actions and intentions of the individual. At the societal level building social capital relates to social structure and organisation which tends to …

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What is the value of social capital?

Social capital is social relations that have productive benefits. The best way to understand social capital is through the old adage, “it’s not what you know, but who you know”. We intuitively understand that we can derive benefits from our relationships with others, whether it be as simple as finding a reliable mechanic (which can …

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The International Social Capital Association is an international non-profit member-based association devoted to advancing the research on and the application of the social capital concept for the benefit of all.

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